Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will again like to bring attention to the importance of creating a Tlicho region.
Mr. Speaker, currently, the GNWT is divided the Northwest Territories GNWT is divided into five regions. They are the Deh Cho, North Slave, Delta, and South Slave region. Then the population of the North Slave region is 23,144. The population of the Deh Cho is 2,073 while the Sahtu region is 2,500. If the Tlicho is carved out of the North Slave region, the population would be 2,650. Mr. Speaker, let me point out that if Tlicho region was created, the population would be greater than the population of the Sahtu and Deh Cho region.
Mr. Speaker, there is no cohesive group within any region of the Northwest Territories than the Tlicho. Their language, culture and way of life is distinct from all other regions. The cohesiveness was recognized by the Government of Canada with the creation of the Tlicho region. Mr. Speaker, let me remind this body that the GNWT was a party of the creation of the Tlicho government and signed off on its creation.
There is initial evidence that the Tlicho region should be formally established as an administrative region within the GNWT. Mr. Speaker, even the Government of Canada Statistics Canada has divided GNWT into six administrative regions and has separated out the Tlicho region from the North Slave region. I say good for them. They recognize the necessity to treat the Tlicho as a separate region.
In addition, I have to acknowledge that part of the GNWT also recognized that the Tlicho region is very unique from the rest of the North Slave region. I say good job to the Financial Administration Board Secretariat for having produced the geographic tracking of expenditure report. Mr. Speaker, I ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you.
Unanimous consent granted
Mr. Speaker, this is a great report that not only tracks GNWT expenditures for the proposed Tlicho region but also tracks GNWT expenditures down to individual Tlicho communities. Mr. Speaker, this report should be required reading for all GNWT departments to verify that they are providing the necessary services to each Tlicho communities. For example, would be the emergency management office, fire prevention and response training, health promotion, children services, justice systems, etcetera. When there are cases where no funds are spent in some of these areas, the GNWT departments and Tlicho community government should dialogue to ensure that needs are met, that these needs are met. But how will they know in the absence of this report? This report is not only priceless for the future of the Tlicho region but also all other regions as well.
Mr. Speaker, the sad truth is that probably the most important financial document that GNWT has ever published has been discontinued. It has been for over ten years. This report must not be suppressed any longer, Mr. Speaker. This report is a huge accountability document for each GNWT department, and I see why it was discontinued. However, it needs to be brought back for transparency and for people's sake.
Mr. Speaker, the main estimates should identify proposed spending at community levels in the same way as reported in the geographic tracking of expenditures so people can really see what is being spent in small communities. Thank you. I will have question for the Minister of Finance at appropriate time.
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.
